19 February 2015

Fennec fox

An adult fennec fox crouches in a village sheep pen [in Tunisia]. The fox had been captured as a cub, and kept as a pet for over a year.

The fennec is the smallest of the Canidae (dog family) and is found in
desert and semi-desert areas of North Africa. It is particularly
well-adapted to desert conditions—its large ears help dissipate heat,
furry under-paws provide insulation against hot sands, and it can live
without water for long periods, deriving all it needs from its prey.
Fennecs are not an endangered species, but—prized for their
appearance—they are systematically being captured to be sold as pets, or
used to make money from tourists wishing to pose for souvenir
photographs.

3 comments:

If it were truly a pet it would be inside a person's dwelling, not tied up outside. I wouldn't even tie up a dog outside and do not understand people who do so. It is probably too late for this fox to be returned to the wild, but it may not be too late for it to be treated humanely. I will try to contact the photographer to see if there is anything that can be done for the poor animal.

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